Line 6: good entry level 1/2 stack, but it`s more a toy then an amp, has a few cool effects, basicly you buy this amp because you love gain and you think 1/2 stacks are TEH Broootalz. i know, i was that guy LOL

Marshall Mode 4: More of a tube feel to it, EMG`s react alot like they do on a tube amp, sheer GAIN, WAYYYYYY better then a SS amp, the tone isn`t a tube amp but it`s not bad either.

Marshall JCM900: a real tube amp, honestly has the least amount of gain compared to the other 2 BUT as i found out gain isn`t everything, the tone is godly compared to the SS and Hybrid, and sound and volume are far better, the mode 4 is louder but the JCM is alot smoother and doesn`t hurt your ears as much, feedback is so much more controlable and pinch harmonics are so clear and loud.... bottemline, in my experiance you can`t beat an all Tube head/amp

i`m thankfull really for UG because if it wasn`t for them i`d still own my Spider stack HAHA.

The only real difference is sound/tone. If you're not too bothered with it then no, there is absolutely no difference/advantage. As far as convenience, while tubes/valves can break or burn out, they can also be replaced. Solidstates can overheat or sometimes catch fire...in which case you'll be in the market for a new amp, because it is not feasible to repair a solidstate.

i wish all threads like this would get closed and the thread starters get warnings. there have been way too many of these threads in this week alone. just go play an amp, if you like it good, if you dont, find one you do like.

It really doesn't matter. Most of the people in here blindly advocate tube from word of mouth rather than actual experience. The best clean and overdrive sound I have ever heard were on a solid state Fender amp from the 80s, bar absolutely none.

Secondly, Tubscreamers, Fuzz, Distortion pedals etc are SOLID STATE TECHNOLOGY. Yes thats right, so when you flip on that Tubescreamer (which is not a true overdrive, it's a distortion pedal with a kick in the mids..) you are adding a solid state layer of gain over your amp so regardless of how 'tubelike' the tone you have is, you're still essentially messing with solid state gear.

Tube amps have a warmer sound/tone to them while SS is different, just depends on what sound you are going for. Johnny greenwood out of radiohead still uses an SS amp in his Gear its some sort of an 1980's fender.

It really doesn't matter. Most of the people in here blindly advocate tube from word of mouth rather than actual experience. The best clean and overdrive sound I have ever heard were on a solid state Fender amp from the 80s, bar absolutely none.

Yeah? What amp? You could certainly argue that some of the best cleans or high gain sounds can be gotten from certain SS amps, but that crunchy, bluesy center is heavily dominated by tubes. Any SS amp that effectively emulates the crunch of a Palomino V16 probably costs up to 10x more.

Quote by TimmyPage06

Secondly, Tubscreamers, Fuzz, Distortion pedals etc are SOLID STATE TECHNOLOGY. Yes thats right, so when you flip on that Tubescreamer (which is not a true overdrive, it's a distortion pedal with a kick in the mids..) you are adding a solid state layer of gain over your amp so regardless of how 'tubelike' the tone you have is, you're still essentially messing with solid state gear.

A quality analog pedal is a composite of wires, capacitors, and resistors - not unlike those found in the highest quality all tube amplifiers! So to refer to them as "solid state technology" is more than a little disingenuous. It's these types of design features that make a Pritchard amp better than Fender Frontman, or an analog fuzz warmer and more pleasing to the ear than a digital fuzz.

Tubescreamers, fuzz, distortion, -or any type of boost pedal- work differently with tube amps than they do with SS amps, too. Depending on the users settings, they'll actually push the tubes in the amp harder, getting more of the amp's true natural overdrive to come thru. On a SS amp, it works exclusively as a simulation, otherwise it will push the amp into harder, unpleasant SS clipping.

It really doesn't matter. Most of the people in here blindly advocate tube from word of mouth rather than actual experience. The best clean and overdrive sound I have ever heard were on a solid state Fender amp from the 80s, bar absolutely none.

Secondly, Tubscreamers, Fuzz, Distortion pedals etc are SOLID STATE TECHNOLOGY. Yes thats right, so when you flip on that Tubescreamer (which is not a true overdrive, it's a distortion pedal with a kick in the mids..) you are adding a solid state layer of gain over your amp so regardless of how 'tubelike' the tone you have is, you're still essentially messing with solid state gear.

Almost all high gain amps have a solid state rectifier built in

The Mesa Boogie Rectifier series are a great example... tons of people prefer the solid state rectifier over the tube rectifier.

Solid state isn't bad at everything, it just doesn't need to take the place of tubes.

EDIT: There is also a difference in an analog pedal and a Line 6 processor. To me, pedals aren't 'as' solid state as digital multi effects processors and stuff

Whenever I'm having to play my valve amp at home quietly, the thought that I might be better off with SS creeps into the back of my mind. But every time I get to take it out to gig, the sound just blows all those thoughts away and I fall in love with it again.

but it is true that valve amps are damn annoying and you have to look after them pretty well

Surprisingly (well, not) you don't have a valve amp yourself. Are computers annoying because you have to wait for 30 seconds when you turn them on? Look after them pretty well? The only thing there is really is the whole standby thing, and that becomes a routine very quickly.

^And all things consider, it is no worse than looking after a SS amp or even your CRT TV/monitor. I took my blues junior from downtown vancouver, hope onto skytrain, bus, and walked, and the electronics still work fine (considering where the tube hangs, it is surprising)

TS, do NOT forget to look at the Blackheart Little Giant. ministack version is like $300 and pretty sexy. it's what i use. money left over could be used to buy an overdrive pedal of ur choice to get it into metal and such.

dimed it'll give you Guns N' Roses tone easy. no bells or whistles other than a 3/5 watt switch and EQ. it's sexyyyy

depending on how many watts you want it should be just perfect for you. go to my profile to hear sound clips. these things are like mini marshalls

I'm an idiot and I accidentally clicked the "Remove all subscriptions" button. If it seems like I'm ignoring you, I'm not, I'm just no longer subscribed to the thread. If you quote me or do the @user thing at me, hopefully it'll notify me through my notifications and I'll get back to you.

Quote by K33nbl4d3

I'll have to put the Classic T models on my to-try list. Shame the finish options there are Anachronism Gold, Nuclear Waste and Aged Clown, because in principle the plaintop is right up my alley.

Quote by K33nbl4d3

Presumably because the CCF (Combined Corksniffing Forces) of MLP and Gibson forums would rise up against them, plunging the land into war.

even so, i agree with what slats is saying. using a boost pedal with a tube amp isn't the same as using a solely solid state amp, it sounds better.

I'm an idiot and I accidentally clicked the "Remove all subscriptions" button. If it seems like I'm ignoring you, I'm not, I'm just no longer subscribed to the thread. If you quote me or do the @user thing at me, hopefully it'll notify me through my notifications and I'll get back to you.

Quote by K33nbl4d3

I'll have to put the Classic T models on my to-try list. Shame the finish options there are Anachronism Gold, Nuclear Waste and Aged Clown, because in principle the plaintop is right up my alley.

Quote by K33nbl4d3

Presumably because the CCF (Combined Corksniffing Forces) of MLP and Gibson forums would rise up against them, plunging the land into war.

I'm an idiot and I accidentally clicked the "Remove all subscriptions" button. If it seems like I'm ignoring you, I'm not, I'm just no longer subscribed to the thread. If you quote me or do the @user thing at me, hopefully it'll notify me through my notifications and I'll get back to you.

Quote by K33nbl4d3

I'll have to put the Classic T models on my to-try list. Shame the finish options there are Anachronism Gold, Nuclear Waste and Aged Clown, because in principle the plaintop is right up my alley.

Quote by K33nbl4d3

Presumably because the CCF (Combined Corksniffing Forces) of MLP and Gibson forums would rise up against them, plunging the land into war.

A true overdrive pedal doesn't have any gain stages. We're talking things like treble boosters which drive a certain frequency (treble or mids) into you amp to push the tubes into breakup.

While Tubescreamers do indeed have a boost in the mids, they still are set up with gain stages. Put one through a solid state amp and you will hear the tubescreamer sound. Put a treble booster through a solid state amp and it will sound like a cross between bees buzzing and an obese man with explosive diarrhea. Not a pleasant sound..

This is because of the way they are produced - after it hits the top of it's acceptable frequency on a tube amp you can push it further and it will get more and more distorted. Do the same on a solid state amp and you will hit a wall, after which the sound will not change to accommodate the extra volume, it'll simply cut off and get buzzy and raspy.

Another point - SS and Digital are different. SS I find sounds much more natural than Digital, but digital will be more accurate at replicating sounds, and hence digital delay and reverb are still quite popular. Not to say digital can't sound good, I've heard several good players play through little Line 6 spider practice amps and genuinely sound quite good, most people don't know how to tweak amps, and turn the gain and mids up far more than what they need to be, so it sounds terrible.

Just trying to give some education here. BB King plays a crappy solid state amp - the Gibson Lab amp. As does the guy from Kings X and they get amazing tone. There's always an alternative, neither sounds distinctly better to me, just different. All tools to your tone.

A true overdrive pedal doesn't have any gain stages. We're talking things like treble boosters which drive a certain frequency (treble or mids) into you amp to push the tubes into breakup.

While Tubescreamers do indeed have a boost in the mids, they still are set up with gain stages. Put one through a solid state amp and you will hear the tubescreamer sound. Put a treble booster through a solid state amp and it will sound like a cross between bees buzzing and an obese man with explosive diarrhea. Not a pleasant sound...